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Ganesh Idol Stuck Under Metro, Sthapna Postponed
15 Sep
Summary
- 22-ft tall Ganesh idol was stuck for hours under the Metro route.
- The idol's turban was removed to navigate the height clearance.
- Organizers postponed the sthapna by a full day due to the delay.
A massive 22-ft tall Ganesh idol, known as 'Hilltop Ka Raja,' became lodged beneath Nagpur's Metro route on Central Avenue on Monday night. The idol, being transported from Mahal to Hilltop, remained stuck for several hours, compelling organizers to reschedule its sthapna (installation) by a day.
Navigating the Central Avenue stretch presented considerable difficulties due to the elevated Metro corridor and other infrastructure. To overcome the height restriction, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's fire and emergency services department deployed a specialized turntable ladder. The idol's turban had to be removed to allow it to pass through the obstructed section.
The incident, which caused significant concern about potential damage to the idol, prompted city police to seek assistance from the NMC fire department. Former MLC and organizer Prakash Gajbhiye acknowledged that choosing Central Avenue was an error, directly attributing the hurdles to the Metro route.
This event underscores the logistical challenges faced when transporting large religious idols through urban areas with new overhead infrastructure. It has also brought to light the necessity for better coordination between traffic police, civic authorities, and event organizers during the planning phase for such processions, emphasizing the need for advance route surveys and height-clearance checks.
